The Minnesota Vikings’ personnel in the defensive line, linebackers, secondary, offensive line and running backs compares favorably or is superior to the talent on many other NFL rosters. The quarterback and wide receiver positions are holding this team back.
Frustrating? “Well, sure it is and no one is more frustrated than the Vikings coaches and players, but I would suggest that the one thing they can offer is try to get better balance in the offense,” said Dean Dalton, the former Vikings assistant coach. “And to do that they need to improve the team core to give Tarvaris Jackson better outlets, more consistency by his receivers and more explosiveness by the receiver corps. …”
Dalton, who now analyzes the NFL for local and national media, believes the Vikings are committed to Jackson as the No. 1 quarterback. If there’s an off-season move for another NFL quarterback he thinks it’s much more likely to be for a backup to Jackson.
“I think they’re going to ride the horse that brung-em,” Dalton said. “Tarvaris Jackson leads the charge.”
Jackson will start his third season as a professional this summer and is coming off a year in which he threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (9). Dalton’s comments about balancing the offense could be vital to further improvement by Jackson and the overall offense. Dalton advocates an offense that will “stretch” the field more and open up both the passing and the running led by what he calls the “one-two punch” of running backs Adrian Peterson (second in the NFL in total rushing yards in 2007) and Chester Taylor. That strategy keeps the safeties from crowding the line of scrimmage, taking pressure off the running backs and Jackson.
To find more explosiveness and consistency in catching the ball the Vikings need to look outside the organization. “If I were making the decisions for the Vikings I would probably bring in a veteran free agent and be aggressive in the draft,” Dalton said.
The free agent market opens this week. Dalton suggests that Bernard Berrian of Chicago fits the Vikings’ need as someone who can be a big play receiver. He mentioned D.J. Hackett of Seattle, too, but cautioned about his problems with injuries.
Without naming players, Dalton said this year’s college draft seems to offer wide receivers with the speed and talent to help the Vikings. Still, Dalton doesn’t advocate that the Vikings draft for need on the first round. It’s sounder policy, he said, to draft for “value,” take the best player available rather than forcing yourself to fill a need.